Loan Recipients

When the congregational leaders of the First United Methodist Church in Grapevine met with TMF’s Robert Hoppe in 2005, he asked what seemed like a simple question.
“If your church were to close tomorrow, what would be the reaction of your community?”

In 2010, the clergy and lay leadership at St. Stephen United Methodist Church in Amarillo recognized that they needed a new Children’s Center to truly serve the needs of their community. They understood that if they wanted to keep their congregation thriving, it was important to provide the community’s young families with the programs and facilities that a strong local church could provide.

Twenty years ago, Grace Fellowship United Methodist Church in Katy was a worship community in search of a place to gather. Today, Grace Fellowship UMC sits on a 30- acre campus, with a worship center, a children’s center, a youth ministry building and an administrative and meeting facility. And TMF has been there every step of the way.

Northern Hills United Methodist Church in San Antonio has grown from a small neighborhood church to a strong regional church. While much of that growth has been outward, Northern Hills recently decided to reach back to its roots.

The caring people of FUMC Dumas host a low-cost Mother’s Day Out program, an ESL program free of charge, and participate in other community events such as a Christmas Sharing and Backyard Missions where those less fortunate find nourishment and gifts during the holiday season and assistance with home repairs year round.

A twenty-seven-year-old man living “on the slab” had accepted society’s labels – 8th-grade dropout, drug and alcohol addict, homeless man. St. John’s United Methodist Church in the heart of downtown Houston, however, viewed him differently.

A lighthouse casts a light to guide mariners to safety in dangerous waters. The new youth activities building at Bethany United Methodist Church in Austin, appropriately named “The Lighthouse,” is not only full of the light and laughter of 100 active youth throughout the week – it is a beacon of hope for homeless families with children during times of darkness and defeat.

Area Representatives build relationships with clergy and laity at the community level to better understand their needs and help them access the resources they need to discern their core purpose and achieve their God-appointed missions.

“Stewarding Potential” is about seizing every opportunity, through any point of contact, to help individuals, families, congregations and like-minded organizations to achieve their God-inspired potential.

TMF's Leadership Ministry is helping to create Congregational Cultures of Purpose and Generosity that connect Church leaders with the resources they need to discern their purpose and respond with acts of courage and generosity.